Security Council Standings

This page provides a snapshot of positions believed to be held by the member
states on the UN Security Council, culled frommedia reports and government
statements, and provided by informed sources. (Individuals with news and tips on government positions, please use the phone number provided here.)

United
StatesPermanent Member
Presidency: February 2006

The United States will almost certainly endorse Ban Ki Moon in the formal
vote on Monday.

The government's position that strong managerial and administrative
skills remains unchanged, and its support of Ban will certainly be framed
in those terms. Its firm opposition to the practice of regional rotation
slipped when President Bush stated in July that the U.S. was looking
in the "Far East" for a suitable candidate.

Speculation is that Zeid Raed al-Hussein, Vaira Vike-Freiberga and
Ashraf Ghani were encouraged to enter the race by the U.S., while Bangkok-based
The Nation has reported that the U.S. had encourage the Thai
government to nominate Surin Pitsuwan. A September 28th Washington Post
article however suggests that the U.S. has decided to vote only for
Ban Ki Moon, after having "encouraged" both Ban and Tharoor in the earlier
straw polls. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton unsuccessfully pushed for color-coded
ballots in the third straw poll, but has since suggested any new candidates
need to enter the race before October 2, when such differentiation will
be introduced during the fourth straw poll.

Singapore officials are reported to have no interest at all in putting
forward Ambassador Chan Heng Chee or former Singapore Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong as candidates. Both were rumored to be on the recent U.S.
short list.

United Kingdom
Permanent MemberPresidency: (not this year)

The United Kingdom has echoed the United States' position on the regional
rotation practice, and is equally likely to endorse Ban on Monday. The
government opposed color-coded ballots in the third straw poll, in hopes
that new candidates could enter the race before Ban secured unanimous
support, but such concern was acted on too late.

France Permanent MemberPresidency: July 2006

France views the regional rotation system as a priority but not the exclusive
criterion. Like the United Kingdom, France discouraged using color-coded
ballots for the third straw poll. The government is expected to endorse
Ban.

RussiaPermanent MemberPresidency: (not this year)

Russia reiterated its committment to the practice of regional rotation
during the opening of the 61st session of the UNGA, and is expected to
endorse Ban. They almost certainly discouraged Vīķe-Freiberga in the last
straw poll and would have vetoed her candidacy on Monday if she remained
in the race.

China
Permanent Member
Presidency: April 2006

Ambassador Wang's statement after the straw poll indicates that China
is pleased with the consensus around Ban as the next Secretary General,
consistent with their firm position on a Asian for the post.

Most observers viewed China's support as the deciding factor this year,
given the government's regional leadership, recent diplomatic assertiveness
and firm stand for regional rotation. China, along with the U.S. and
Russia, pushed for color-coded ballots in the third straw poll, suggesting
it was finally willing to reveal its preferences, at least as one of
the five permanent members.

ArgentinaRotating MemberPresidency: March 2006

The Argentine government supported the principle of regional rotation
and is expected to back Ban.

CongoRotating MemberPresidency: May 2006

DenmarkRotating MemberPresidency: June 2006

GhanaRotating MemberPresidency: August 2006

Ghana's foreign minister has publically stated that the government will
consult with other African nations in hopes of backing a single candidate.
The government is expected to back Ban in that regard.

GreeceRotating MemberPresidency: September 2006

Greece has announced it will back an Asian national for the post of UNSG,
and statements by the Ambassador at the end of September strongly suggested
Ban has secured their support. The government recently was one of several
nations which critics suggested received favorable trade arrangments with
South Korea in exchange for supporting Ban Ki Moon's candidacy.

JapanRotating Member
Presidency: October 2006

Japan will not field a candidate for the UN top post and will only back
an Asian national with a view to promoting UN reform, perhaps one supportive
of a Japanese permanent seat on the SC.

Japan supported holding informal meetings between candidates and regional
group leaders to allow member states an opportunity to better familiarize
themselves with the candidates' qualifications and for candidates to
communicate their platforms. Japan is also open to implementing some
changes this year, while recognizing others will require "longer-term
considerations." Ban may have had difficulties gaining their support,
given Korea's opposition to a permanent seat for Japan, as well as recently
renewed disagreements between the two countries over Japan's wartime
actions.

Japan was widely considered a likely candidate for the sole discouraging
vote against Ban during the earlier straw polls. It is assumed the government
will nonetheless endorse Ban on Monday.

PeruRotating Member
Presidency: November 2006

During a recent meeting with his Thai counterpart, Peruvian Foreign
Minister Oscar Maurtua de Romana noted Peru's support for an Asian candidate
per the regional rotation system and that his government was impressed
with the qualifications of Mr. Surakiart. Nonetheless, the government
is expected to back Ban on Monday.

QatarRotating MemberPresidency: December 2006

Qatar caused a bit of row when it backed Ban in opposition to an Arab
League endorsement of Jordan's Prince Zeid, leading Jordan to recall its
ambassador to the country. Qatar had earlier been rumored to be the government
which "discouraged" Minister Ban Ki Moon's candidacy at the 14 September
straw poll, but clearly has been supporting Ban throughout September,
and will do so on Monday.

SlovakiaRotating Member
Presidency: (not this year)

Slovakia supports selection on the basis of professional criteria and
experience in management. However, if regional rotation is affirmed,
the government asserts that East European states reserve the privilege
of presenting candidates. Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Eduard Kukan
had stated that his government "will not accept that the Asian
group has any sort of a right to the post" at this time according
to the regional rotation principle. This has been the common position
of the East European Group for the last decade, reaffirmed in a 2005
intra-group memo for all EEG members except Russia.

Nonetheless, Slovakia will almost certainly endorse Ban on Monday.
The country was one of several nations which critics recently suggested
had received favorable trade arrangments with South Korea in exchange
for supporting Ban Ki Moon's candidacy.

TanzaniaRotating MemberPresidency: January 2006

Consistent with its membership in the African Group, Tanzania is committed
to supporting an Asian candidate for UNSG and is fully expected to endorse
Ban on Monday. Critics recently suggested that Tanzania received $18 million
in funding for new university facilities from South Korea in exchange
for supporting Ban Ki Moon's candidacy.